Jim's Articles

Why visit Turkey and Istanbul?

Incredible Turkey … the destination at the intersection between East and West cultures. The ancient Hippodrome was begun by Septimius Severus in AD 203 and completed by Constantine the Great in AD 330. This was the center of Byzantine public life and the scene of splendid games and chariot races but also factional conflicts. Today, there isn’t much of the Hippodrome left to see, except for a small section of the gallery walls on the southern side, but the At Meydani (park), which now stands on the site is home to a variety of monuments. On the northwest side is a fountain, presented to the Ottoman sultan by the German Emperor William II in 1898. Then, heading southwest are three ancient monuments: a 20-meter high Egyptian obelisk (from Heliopolis); the Serpent Column brought here from Delphi by Constantine; and a stone obelisk that originally was clad in gold-covered bronze plating until they were stolen by the soldiers of the 4th Crusade in 1204.

Located in the city of Bodrum in southwest Turkey, Bodrum Castle was built by the Crusaders in the 15th century as the Castle of St. Peter. It is one of the world’s best preserved monuments dating back to medieval times. The castle now operates as a museum, with the focus on the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. It overlooks the internal marina of Bodrum filled with millions of dollars worth of sailing crafts.

The top sightseeing drawcard for Eastern Turkey, Mount Nemrut’s summit funerary mound is scattered with the broken remnants of once mammoth statues, which guarded it. This weird and lonely place has to be one of Turkey’s most peculiar archaeological sites. The giant stone heads of long-forgotten gods stare out from the summit, casting an eerie atmosphere over the barren mountaintop. The time to come is at sunrise, so you can watch the statues as they loom out of the dark.

An imposing tourist attraction in one of Turkey’s most popular resorts, Bodrum Castle has provided many a visitor with an afternoon of exploration when a break from the sun lounger is required. This impressive 15th century citadel was originally built by Christian knights. Today, Bodrum Castle is open to the public and houses the world renowned Museum of Underwater Archaeology founded in 1962.

Istanbul experiences hot summers and cold winters so the ideal time to visit the city would be from late March till May and from September till mid-November. During Spring, the weather becomes warm during the day and cooler at night, with less rain. You can expect high temperatures between 18 and 27 degree Celsius. Istanbul guided tours in Spring will show you the colourful Tulips blossom, which plays a significant role in Turkish culture and history. Before booking any Istanbul tours or whipping out our spreadsheets to figure out a daily budget. The cost of your trip to Istanbul will vary depending on your individual needs. The cost of food and drink can be very little if you want to try some of the street food your money will go a long way. The transport costs are reasonable, everyone should try the tram that runs through Istanbul’s Istiklal Street and is very cheap at less than a Euro. Extra details about Istanbul private tours.

The Hagia Sophia was once a house of worship that served several religions well over the centuries. It started out as a Greek Eastern Orthodox basilica that was home to the Patriarch of Constantinople when it was built in 537. For almost six decades in the 12th century it was a Roman Catholic church. It became a mosque in 1453, remaining that way until 1931, when it was closed. It reopened as a museum in 1935. At one time, it was the largest cathedral in the world at one time, and served as the inspiration for other mosques, including the Blue Mosque, as it was such a great example of Byzantine architecture. It is most famous for its mosaics depicting various religious scenes.

Top destinations in Malaysia

Malaysia is a fabulous destination, so much history, a must see for any travel fan. The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur were the world’s tallest buildings before being surpassed in 2004 by Taipei 101. However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. The 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia’s Muslim religion. The Petronas Twin Towers feature a sky bridge between the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors.

Along with the Petronas Twin Towers, Menara Kuala Lumpur is easily Malaysia’s most recognizable and popular landmark. Constructed in 1994, the tower stands at 421 metres and effortlessly trumps the Petronas Twin Towers with the highest and most spectacular view of the city. This gleaming tower’s spindle-like apex is visible from almost anywhere in Kuala Lumpur. Menara KL’s viewing deck is, at 276 metres, at least 100 metres higher than the Petronas Twin Towers’ Skybridge; the view is marvellous during the day and even better at night when you can see the entire sparkling city centre.

One of the most popular spots for international tourists, Batu Ferringhi is a beautiful cliff-side area with beautiful sandy beaches at the foot of a mountain. Penang is also a haven for food, and the streets of Batu Ferringhi are lined with hawker stalls serving only the best. Spend all day lounging on the white fine sands or take part in some water activities offered by the local thrill seekers. Malacca is one of the best states to visit for heritage sites and antique stores, and is immensely popular with history lovers and artists. By day it is a town-sized museum, filled with relics from Dutch settlers and Malaysia’s unique Baba Nyonya Peranakan culture; by night it turns into a giant night market, lining the length of Jonker Street.

This 20 kms long and 11 kms wide Tioman Island is the best example of what an happening island life is all about. This paradise for travellers is replete with adventure and leisure activities that compel to call the island one of the best places to see in Malaysia. Located in the South China Sea, Tioman Island boasts teal water, breathtaking waterfalls, lush forests and orange blossoms. The island is perfect to enjoy activities like snorkelling, diving, sailing as well as paddling. One also will enjoy taking a sneak peek at the rich village life on the island.

Need to travel to Malaysia and looking for an eVisa? Read extra info at Malaysia visa online. Malaysian visa is issued on time and sometimes before because a number of tourists keep visiting continuously in this country. This is the reason for which the visa process has become much faster and easier.

Camping sleeping pads tips

A good camping sleeping pad will ensure that your hiking travel trip will be a success. Here are some camping tips.Keep a light handy: Campers are often amazed at how dark the night feels outdoors. Wear a headlamp or keep a flashlight handy. Hang a small LED lantern inside your tent as soon as you set it up, so you can turn it on when you prepare for bed. Some tents now come with built-in LED lights for a gentle glow.

If you get peckish, eat a small snack before bed of nuts or cherries. These are easy to pack, don’t require refrigeration, and best of all – are shown to promote sleep. While you’re at it, avoid alcohol and caffeine after the late afternoon, too. Many campers like to bring along their favorite adult beverage in a trusty flask. Save this for daytime sipping only. While alcohol initially makes you drowsy, it interferes with your sleep during the latter half of the night.

These are filled with some foam which expands when you open the valve and spread the pad, and it sucks the air in. You may blow some air in if you want. The outside shell is usually waterproof. The Therm-a-Rest model given in the picture above is one of them. An open-cell foam structure is similar to a bath sponge. So you have the gas pockets which are connected with each other. They are self-inflating due to memory effect of the foam. These pads are popular among backpackers and campers. They come in a large variety of weight (and thickness and price), but they are usually more lightweight than the air pads.

Self-inflating pads are typically the most convenient. You simply open the pad’s valve, which allows the foam cells to begin self-filling with air. Top it off with a few puffs of air to get to your desired firmness. They too can be punctured, but again this is a pretty easy fix. They are slightly heavier, so if packing weight is your biggest concern, you won’t find the lightest pads in this category. They are typically warmer than a lot of other pads. For an average hike or camping trip, the convenience and extra warmth may be worth the weight. Overall, self-inflatable sleeping pads are generally the most comfortable and warmest options, but are the heaviest.

Buy camping sleeping pads on Amazon at a very good price: We recommend this one, TFO Air Camping Sleeping Pad 1lb Ultralight, Upgraded 40D Tear-Resistant Nylon, Textured Inflatable Camping Mat with Compact Carrying Bag for Backpacking/Hiking/Car. See extra details on Soft Air Camping Sleeping Pad on Amazon. 1lb ULTRALIGHT CAMPING PAD & COMPACT CARRYING BAG The camping pad is 75″ X 23″ X 2″, which can satisfy your desire to enjoy a good night’s sleep in the wild. The super tiny packed size (10″ * 4″) is almost half the size of standard camp sleeping pads and perfect for fitting into a backpack in your funny hiking trip.

Adventure travel places and San Blas sailing

Salina Cruz adventure travel locations are an amazing thing to do in 2019. To stay true to the technology detox, resting is essential. And in the San Blas Islands, naps are best taken under the shade of the palms. Local families that own the islands sell anything from fruits to beach towels, which you can purchase for a picnic lunch in the shade. The temperature averages at 90 degrees year round, so sunblock and shade will be essential to a relaxing time in the islands.

Tourists from around the world come to San Blas exclusively for this important ride, La Tovara and Camalota Lagoon, where the crocodile sanctuary is located within the estuary area of the municipality of San Blas. Its ecological environment remains untouched, allowing direct contact with nature and to feel the thrill of entering a special habitat of flora and fauna.

Island Banedub is marked with a skull of a cow head near the beach, but don’t let this sight scare you away! Island Banedub has some cabins and a small bar with a campfire. The beach lies to the south and is out of the current so you can bathe in calm waters. At night you will see illuminating jellyfish and squid swimming around and this sight is truly magical! The beaches on Chichimei are probably the most deserted in San Blas and the most easy to reach for travelers without a boat. Chichimei is also a well know backpackers hangout that lacks electricity or flowing water. But this relatively big island, walking around takes up to 15 min, has long white sand beaches with crystal clear water all around. They have a volleyball field with volleyball that you can use all day for free. You can stay here in cabin full of hammocks, back to basic with the facilities. Chichimei is a must go for visitors of San Blas. At Tao Travel 365 we believe in eco-friendly travel preserving the beauties of nature and forming meaningful human relationships with the locals, while adhering to our Tao philosophies that focus on being in balance with yourself and with nature. Every adventure we offer to our customers has been handpicked and personally experienced by Michael and Paola, who value high quality experiences, great prices and excellent customer service. More details at https://www.taotravel365.com/.

Few attractions include A bakery with this name will make you think of one thing: banana bread. And you will not be wrong because of Famer Juan Bananas been doing it since the late seventies when he came to this country under the name of Juan Garcia. Besides that you can delight in your Bread hopefully it will touch fresh from the oven, Juan Bananas is an excellent tour guide. Ask advice!

Visiting San Blas is mainly about enjoying the beauty of the nature and spending your time relaxing on these incredible islands, think of it as a way to get away from it all. I find that it’s the small things that you can do on these multi-day, get aways that make them unique. Here are a few highlights of the speedboat trip I did with San Blas Adventures from Colombia to San Blas.

The San Blas trip is possible all year round. But you need to know one important thing: It’s windy season from December to March. This means there will be high waves, not necessarily around San Blas since it’s sheltered by a reef, but the journey over open seas can get rough (read more about the routes below). If you get seasick easily the sailing trip might not be for you. If you are adventurous and like the idea of sailing, then yes it’s for you!

The San Blas islands and Guna Indians have been the subject of numerous National Geographic articles. Indeed your experience will be right out of the pages of National Geographic. They offer two unbeatable attractions: Caribbean islands of stunning pristine beauty and an opportunity to visit the Guna people, a living Indian culture with a fascinating culture and way of life. In 2011 Lonely Planet selected San Blas as the #3 tropical paradise in the world: “Look up ‘tropical paradise’ and there will probably be a picture of the Guna Yala archipelago. These small islands (also known as the San Blas Islands) are part of the semi-autonomous territory of the Guna people with are part of the semi-autonomous territory of the Guna people and feature palm trees, gorgeous beaches, thatched huts and timeless charm. Big business hasn’t gained a foothold because the Guna rule the roost, with a series of laws to preserve the natural environment. So no ugly hotels spoiling the view and no package tourism polluting the vibe, just plenty of uninhabited islands to explore.” More info on San Blas adventures.

Why visit Sarlat?

Sarlat, France is an incredible historical place. What can you see in Sarlat and Dordogne area? Shoppers and traders have descended on Sarlat for the famous markets since the middle ages. There are a few to choose from, including the large Day Market in the city centre taking place on Saturdays selling everything under the sun. There are also food markets on Saturdays and Wednesdays in Place de la Liberte, a covered market on the square that runs every day and an Organic Night Market open between 18:00 and 20:00 on Place du 14 Juillet. So needless to say it’s a bit of a treasure trove for shoppers. especially if you’re tempted by regional delicacies like foie gras.

You can’t go to Sarlat-la-Caneda and miss the buzzing Saturday food market in the city centre. You might have to jostle for space among the crowds of eagle-eyed locals but it’s well worth it. Trestle tables are laden with farmers’ produce: fleshy red tomatoes, brightly coloured carrots, farm-fresh plums and twisted cucumbers sit alongside seemingly bottomless boxes of garlic, truffles, and trays of foie gras.

Perigueux: The old Roman town of Perigueux is deliciously small and provincial. Farmers flock into town on Saturdays and Wednesdays to sell their produce at the superb morning market. Wooden trestle tables crammed with fruit and veg vie for attention with the pearly-white domes of Perigueux’s Byzantine cathedral, evocative of St-Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Around the corner on place St-Louis, the November-to-March duck market sees gourmets and grandmothers furtively hand over cash in exchange for goose hearts, duck livers, every imaginable part of the duck – dried-blood pancakes called sanguettes included. Come December, the heady aroma of black truffles heightens the foodie excitement.

Searching for Sarlat hotels? All the streets, squares and palaces recount centuries of history. It was during the Middle Ages that Sarlat reached the rank of bishopric. This title and the important commercial activity of the city was at origin of the existence of the many fairs that still survive today. All this activity turned this small town into what we discover today: a museum of palaces of Renaissance and Gothic style, where merchants wanted to demonstrate their power, despite not possessing titles of nobility. The medieval town of Sarlat developed around a large benedictine abbey whose church, half a century later, would become the cathedral of the diocese. It reached its apogee in the 13th century when it counted 5,000 inhabitants. It was in year 937 when the abbey became part of the Cluny order. See more info on https://sarlathotel.com/.

Amphawa floating market

Bangkok is a fabulous city to see. We will talk about Bangkok attractions and especially the Amphawa floating market tour. Opened in 1990, the eight-story CentralWorld marketed itself as a middle class shopping center, opposed to the upper class-marketed Siam Paragon. On 19th May 2010, CentralWorld was one of the many properties set on fire by anti government protestors. The fire raged for two days and the Zen department store collapsed in the fire. After months of repair works, the shopping complex reopened on 28th September with 80% of its retail space open for business.

History buffs in particular will want to devote at least half a sightseeing day to the national museum, if not more. Until the mid-1970s, this was Thailand’s only museum, which explains why its collection is so big. Fortunately, just about every exhibit is labeled in Thai and English and guided tours are also offered in English, so you won’t miss out on any of the country’s fascinating ancient and contemporary history. The old Wang Na Palace built by Rama I remains essentially as it was, and stands as a testament to Thai history. Visitors can see regalia, religious and ceremonial artifacts, ceramics, games, weaponry, musical instruments and the Viceroy’s throne, as well as an impressive collection of Buddha figures arranged according to period.

Chatuchak Weekend Market : One of the largest markets in the world: Its land size is huge, covering an area of 35 acres. The number of stall is vast with 8000 stalls. The place brims over products of all kinds as a result. While Chatuchak covers everything you can ever imagine, unique sections worth checking out are rare to find antiques, ceramics, home furniture, and souvenirs. Best place to buy Thai handicrafts in Bangkok: Get some beautiful handicrafts while touring Chatuchak market if you plan to bring home something truly Thai. The product range is huge; the quality is high; the prices are competitive among shops. These are simply the reasons.

Among those excursions from Bangkok, the one you really have to experience would be to go to a floating market. There Are Lots of of these at the vicinity of the city and a few are extremely Well-known in the world, for example Damnoen Saduak or the floating market of Amphawa, there are than many other areas along with the floating markets in Thailand, Amphawa floating market is among these but also the most important to visit. Amphawa floating market people are always very affable and welcome tourists and travelers with a smile, chat and take confidence and honor the hospitality they are so proud of.

Baked, fried, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, cakes, seafood, grilled… we really found thousands of delicacies to buy and taste, all at amazing low prices, so we tired as many as we could! Busy with the locals and many tourists but the atmosphere was incredible. Truly this was for me the best way to visit the Amphawa floating market with join tour. As I was searching I booked this tour because the price is lower than the others. See extra info on Bangkok floating market.